Rehab for Stimulant Users

[Gormur]

I don't know if this belongs in TDS. I was just curious what approach rehab centers use for stimulant users (cocaine, meth, etc).. all i can think of is they might load you up with benzos/other sedatives to sleep off the weeks of withdrawals/psychosis

I can't imagine any effective treatment tho. Switching one drug for another seems like the typical answer of these places, but that's just an assumption of mine

I suppose the therapeutic approach helps some people


-G

 

[Georgie25]

I would think it would consist of trying to get to the root of why they are using and try to correct the behavior so they don't need to use in the future.

 

[Sweet P]

Yes, benzos and anti-psychotics are often used to ease the withdrawals. Switching the stimulant to a pharmaceutical variety (such as dextro-amphetamines) is rarely done, but in my opinion they should be used more. Therapy is also an important part of the treatment process.

 

[Nib]

They didn't get nothing at the rehab I was at. Could barely get fucking aspirin from those nurses when there's a cold going around.

 

[Sweet P]

^ That's just ridiculous. I would have walked out and checked myself into another rehab.

Contrary to common opinion, it's VERY hard to quit stimulants (especially meth) cold turkey. Benzos are a must.

 

[Gormur]

Hm that's what i'd figured, based on the shows i've seen and from what an addict has told me first-hand.. well, that seems a bit discouraging

I'm on meth/amphetamines for ADD. Without them, my life is a mess - as it was pre-drug use

I admit i have the odd meth binge -- 2.. maybe 3 binges in a year is my new record. I say odd because it happens when i've been given a large quantity of meth (free) and can't get rid of it very quickly - i'm not a dealer or the like out for money, etc.. so when i have a lot like this, i binge... however, i put a fair chunk of it away for when i need it: for long work days, physical labor, doing my taxes etc..

I think the switch from street to pharmaceutical meth/amp is the only logical solution.. that is, if the person decides they will continue to use regardless and they recognize that the drug is helping them in some way

For people who are using stims to dissociate/numb emotions, i think it's usually obvious that they need to take a healthier/more self-sustaining approach, because of the visible problems their drug use causes them/others

 

[Gormur]

Contrary to common opinion, it's VERY hard to quit stimulants (especially meth) cold turkey. Benzos are a must.

I sometimes take months at a time (usu just 1mo) off my d-amp. I'm more or less incapacitated for the first 2 weeks - psychosis, fatigue, insomnia. The psychosis gradually fades with time, but the fatigue+mental confusion drags on -- (i've always been unusually fatigued, so this may be different for other people)...there is no depression, sadness, joy.. not much of any thing really.. just one of emptiness & dullness. you feel less alive - more like a zombie than a living human. there's no inner peace - but a constant restlessness.. also insomnia

It's probably the most disturbing withdrawal of any drug w/d i've experienced.. mainly because of the physical-and- psychological-energy-burn out-feeling that persists (some say for months, others years..or forever)

I guess if i had to w/d and get off them one day for some reason, i'd try to go the ibogaine route. That really interests me

 

[Cane2theLeft]

^ That's just ridiculous. I would have walked out and checked myself into another rehab.

Contrary to common opinion, it's VERY hard to quit stimulants (especially meth) cold turkey. Benzos are a must.

The standard protocol in my area involves very little if any medication for coke or amp withdrawal. I think they used to give amino acids like l-tyrosine and tryptophan but I don't think that's even that common.

The basic rationale is that these drugs produce very little physical discontinuation syndrome (withdrawal) and the psychological effects of cessation are dealt with in other ways (counseling, etc.)

I am not saying *I* personally agree with this, but that's common practice in my area. Personally I think a little more medication early on in the detox process is beneficial for treatment outcomes in a lot of cases but my area is very anti-methadone, anti-suboxone and forget about medication for coke or amps.

 

[Sweet P]

^ Unfortunately a lot of so-called drug treatment professionals underestimate the power of mental withdrawal symptoms. As has been said, meth withdrawals can lead to severe depression, fatigue, confusion and even psychosis. Which in turn could easily lead to suicide and/or self harm.

 

[Cane2theLeft]

^I'm with ya, beautiful.

I have been through moderate opiate withdrawal dozens of times and I'd rather have that for a month then meth mental cravings.

 

[footscrazy]

One place I went to gave me valium and it was focused on alternative therapies, so there were lots of chinese herbs and vitamins etc.

The other place I went to gave me valium too, but also modafinil (a stimulant they were trialling in meth withdrawal).

 

[lestahb]

The place I went to gave me benzos and antipsychotics. For the depression and fatigue they let me sleep when I needed to, (I was exhausted and the seroquel didn't help). They gave me counselling, and they took me for walks when my short attention span couldn't handle sitting around. It took a long time to heal from the PAWS, but in September it will be 5 years since I've done meth.
They saved my life, no doubt. They didn't make it easy, not for me, or for the heroin addicts, they gave them methadone, but they were tapered quickly. But those who wanted help, we got it.
I tried to get them to give me stims as maintenance, and they laughed at me. Told me I was justifying any way to use, and it was true. If they had given me them, as soon as I could, I would have abused them. I'm okay with the pain I went through, because I'm happy enough now. If they had been easy on me, I would have manipulated them. It was like they had seen it all, and I couldn't get away with my tricks, so I just kept to myself, except for a few people, and listened a lot. The next six months were hard. People died, went to jail, relapsed, and I was so damn tired. But I made it.
And the food was really good.

 

[Cane2theLeft]

^*this* is why I am going into drug counseling.

Congrats!!! You have so much to be proud of!

 

[lasthurrah19]

lestahb, congrats! I'm with Cane: you have so much to be proud of! Meth is not easy to get away from. Here's to you :D

 

[Sweet P]

Well done, lestahb! I've never been to rehab, but I've detoxed in psych hospitals plenty of times which wasn't exactly fun. I tend to get placed in the high security wards cos I get deemed a "threat to myself and others", and at the time I was, so the place was basically a prison. The drug and alcohol service also refused to prescribe me dextro-amphetamines to help quit meth, so I've had to source them elsewhere. I don't abuse the dexies - they honestly don't make me high (I've still got a huge tolerance to amphetamines), but they do help with the cravings and withdrawals.

 

[lestahb]

Thanks for the encouragement all. It feels pretty good. My favourite things about being free from meth:
Choosing to put pyjamas on at night and going to sleep, not passing out where I sat.
Being close to my family. They were close to giving up on me, and now they trust me.

Sweet Pea, there are so many ways to taper, and if you can use the dexies, go to it, I just wasn't strong enough. How are you doing by the way?

 

[Sweet P]

^ I'm doing ok thanks. Apart from one slip-up I've been off meth for around 2 weeks which is good.

The cravings are a struggle still, but when I use dexies they aren't so bad.

 

[VanGlorious]

i'm from canada and from my own personal experience, getting a benzo for any type of withdrawal in not going to happen. most i've ever been offered is a quick methadone taper (25mg - down 5mg a day) and clonidine. for sleep they give seroquel to anyone who wants it.